The Dungeon Master Was Listening

I heard them, okay?

Heard what, you ask? Their rookie hunting plans.

I'd been watching the dungeon for the first time in a while when I noticed the [Greed Trap] was in use, so I went to take a curious peek. Then I heard whispering in the back, so I eavesdropped out of curiosity.

And what I heard was a discussion about rookie hunting. Hahaha, these two have terrible luck.

And their targets were Maiodoru, Shikina, and even Niku, all of whom are under our care. They were clearly planning to do things that would need an R-18G tag on a certain art site. Absolutely unacceptable for Rokuko and Niku's education.

They'd apparently spotted Maiodoru going to register as an adventurer, saying "I want to go on adventures with my fiancé, Kuro-sama!" and, seeing Shikina and Niku accompanying her, judged them to be a three-person party.

… If they'd just been targeting random rookies unrelated to this village, I might've left them alone, you know?

Man, these two are just sooo unlucky.

First, they declared they'd kill the village's resident adventurers. This was picking a fight with me as the village chief, and since it would also cut into my regular DP income, it was also making an enemy of me as the Dungeon Master. One OUT.

If it had stopped there, they could've made it out alive. (I didn't say uninjured.)

Next, their targets included the aristocratic young ladies under our care. If they got attacked, I'd obviously be held responsible, no questions asked. And on top of that, the crime scene would be inside the dungeon? They're clearly planning to pin the blame on the dungeon, right? Give me a break. That makes two OUTs.

If it had stopped there, they'd still have their lives. (I didn't say living would be preferable.)

And then they targeted Niku, my hug pillow, and that skipped the count straight to a cold game over. Wait, in this case it's their lives that are over? Fufufu. Repent thoroughly.

So with that, I decided to report to the guild immediately.

… No, doing it myself would be fine, but if C-Rankers who had properly gathered dungeon intel suddenly disappeared, it would raise alarm levels.

If they'd told the guild something like "We're just going to scout the shallow areas today" and then didn't come back, it would seem unnatural.

It's not that dealing with them myself would be too troublesome. I'm reporting them so I can dispose of them legally.

By reporting like this, I'd be laying the groundwork for "Those guys must've tried rookie hunting and failed…" After all, if their opponent was Niku, it'd be no surprise they got taken down instead!

No evidence needed! It's an accident inside the dungeon!

Well, basically it's just groundwork.

 

So I went to the guild and casually broached the subject with the usual Receptionist-san at the counter: "There's something I need to discuss."

"… So anyway, I happened to overhear them planning to hunt rookies, but is there anything we can do? I think they're targeting the nobles Mai-sama and Shikina, which I'd say is quite a problem."

"I see, understood. Then, how would you like to handle this?"

"Eh? Umm, the death penalty, wouldn't it be? They seem to be repeat offenders and all…"

"Understood. Then I'll leave dealing with them to you, Kehma-sama. I'll arrange to have those two adventurers' assets frozen."

"Eh?"

"I'd like to use what the guild has on record for their assets as compensation for the victims' bereaved families, so if you could extract any information from them, I'd appreciate it. It's not your obligation, so it's fine if you can't."

"Eh? Um, well…"

"… Is there a problem?"

Uh, how should I put this? Things are moving way faster than I expected. I'm completely flustered.

Don't they need to verify the facts? Don't they suspect I might be lying? —Wait, maybe she was using a lie-detecting magic tool under the counter?

Even so, I'd think they'd need to confirm with the suspects themselves.

"Um, isn't this being decided way too easily? Did you already have evidence against them?"

"No, we have no particular evidence, but we have your testimony, Kehma-sama, don't we?"

"Yes."

"And that makes the death penalty appropriate."

"Yes, well…"

"… …"

"… Eh? Wait, just my testimony alone?"

"Yes?"

Even if she was using a lie-detecting magic tool under the counter, I still think fact-checking and evidence would be necessary. I might have misheard, after all.

"… Do you need me to explain?"

"Oh, yes. Please do."

When I said that, Receptionist-san sighed reluctantly.

"First of all, Kehma-sama, you are the 'Village Chief.' In other words, as the person with the highest authority in this village, you also serve as the judicial body, are you aware of this?"

"Yes, well… when you put it that way, it sounds rather serious."

Even though I'm a figurehead, it's not like I lack that authority…

"When the village chief gives testimony, that means the trial is concluded. And since I, as the guild's person in charge, have confirmed the verdict, all that remains is execution."

"Huh, is that how it is?"

In other words: "The most important person in the region and the organization's person in charge agreed, so you're sentenced to death."

… Good grief! In this world, human life is cheap!

Well, it's a world where you can buy a person for one gold coin (about one million yen), so I suppose that's just how it is. Ichika was only fifty silver, after all…

"Also, may I have your ear for a moment?"

"Eh? Sure."

I leaned in to hear her secret.

And in a voice quiet enough that no one around us could hear, she whispered:

"… Kehma-sama, as an aristocrat, you can punish two commoner adventurers based on your testimony alone."

… Seriously? I clutched my head inwardly.

So what actually happened was this:

Two commoner adventurers became subject to punishment based on an [Aristocrat (me)]'s testimony.

The [Aristocrat (me)] demanded the death penalty. Furthermore, the [Chief Executive (me)] advised that the death penalty was appropriate.

Simultaneously, the [Judicial Body (me)] confirmed the death penalty as appropriate. The verdict was confirmed with the Adventurers' Guild.

Since there were no lies, discrepancies, or contradictions in the testimonies of the [Aristocrat (me)], the [Chief Executive (me)], and the [Judicial Body (me)], the guild's person in charge deemed the verdict appropriate. The main basis being the testimonies of the [Chief Executive (me)] and the [Aristocrat (me)].

Execution of the sentence was requested of the [Chief Executive (me)].

Now all that's left is to carry out the sentence.

Yeah, this means that regardless of whether it's rookie hunting or not, if I report something and don't lie, their sentence is decided, right?

Even as a figurehead village chief, combined with an aristocratic position, it looks like dictatorship.

I definitely can't go around casually saying "You're sentenced to death"… So this is what power feels like. Terrifying!

"… Um, why do you know I'm an aristocrat?"

"I cannot answer that due to confidentiality obligations."

Hmm. Was it Sally-san? Or maybe when the Aristocracy Listing was made, word was passed to the guild to serve as proper backing? Or perhaps directly from Haku-san…

Wait, all of those would be Haku-san's doing anyway. There's no point or need to identify the information route.

Well, having the guild's cooperation is convenient.

… Wait, could Receptionist-san be the "last one" Sally-san mentioned?

It's possible. I should be cautious.

"We're aware that you have dual cards. You have so many exceptions that I'd like you to consolidate to B-Rank as soon as possible. Would you like to take the examination?"

"… Sigh, I'll consider it."

I gave a noncommittal answer. I have no intention of publicly becoming a noble.

… Oh, but Niku did show her B-Rank card to the lord, didn't she? What should I do about that?

"By the way, do you know what methods the rookie hunters use?"

"Oh, if that's all—"

I disclosed their methods for the time being. Well, consider it a service.

… Now then, how shall I dispose of them? I'll need to extract as much information as possible about their past victims…